On Tuesday, 28th April, our founder Jules featured on the Dementia UK podcast: ‘My life with dementia.’ You can also listen to the Admiral Nurses discussing the episode here.
In this episode, Jules sits down to share her own deeply personal story of caring for her family. It is an honest, gentle conversation about the love and challenges that eventually led to the heart of June’s Wish.
We are so grateful to Dementia UK for providing a space to share these important stories. A video podcast will be released in June and we’ll let you know when that’s live.
Have a read of the article to accompany the podcast……extract below
In 2018, I began to notice signs of dementia in both Mum and Dad. Dad was getting confused, and it seemed like Mum’s personality was beginning to change. By 2020, Dad’s symptoms were more apparent, and he was diagnosed with vascular dementia at the memory clinic, aged 87. The consultation lasted just 20 minutes and felt very uncaring. We weren’t signposted to any support or given any idea of what the future might look like. Dad didn’t know what was going on.
By 2021, Dad’s dementia had progressed. He put a plastic kettle on the hob, and the fire gutted the kitchen. I realised he and Mum needed more care to keep them safe, and I found an amazing carer called Becky. She became my lifeline. Becky explained that dementia often chugs along for a while, but then there is a massive dip. She was great at helping us to be one step ahead and prepared for the future.
Read the full story on the Dementia UK site:
Photo credit: Elizabeth Cuthbertson at Dementia UK